Gombe suffers setback in fight against Covid-19 as member of state taskforce dies from virus

NIGERIA'S Gombe State's fight against the coronavirus pandemic has suffered a major setback after a member of its task force on Covid-19 died from complications arising from contracting the virus.

In a major tragedy for the state, Shuaibu Danlami, the director for special services and politics in the office of the secretary to the Gombe State, has died from coronavirus complications. Idris Mohammed, the chairman of the Gombe State taskforce on Covid-19, said Mr Danlami was one of his members and as a result, both the secretary to the state government's office complex and the Government House clinic will be closed for decontamination.

Mr Mohammed added:  "The office of the secretary to the Gombe State government, as well as the Government House clinic, are to be closed after a confirmation that the member of staff who died Sunday was coronavirus positive. The state taskforce on Covid-19 through its rapid response team has already begun line listing and contact tracing following the confirmation.

"To this end, all high-risk areas at the Government House, especially the office of the deceased, that of the secretary to the state government and the clinic where he was admitted will be fumigated and samples of the occupants collected for testing. Also, the rapid response team of the taskforce has also begun tracing individuals who participated in the deceased’s burial and his family members for counselling, testing and isolation if found positive.”

He also pointed out that Governor Inuwa Yahaya has approved the expansion and modification of the Covid-19 laboratory at the Gombe State specialist hospital. Mr Mohammed said the approval followed a recommendation by officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.